SAN DIEGO CONNECTION

The USC safety, now a La Jolla resident, was there for the drafting in 2003. Chargers GM A.J. Smith, who would deem it his biggest strikeout, desired a safety but traded down from the No. 15 spot and selected Sammy Davis and Terrence Kiel.

“He’s an awesome player,” Philip Rivers said, “and he’s constantly doing things that are a little out of the norm. You can’t let him distract you.”

Dating to USC, violent hits have made Polamalu a fan favorite. A YouTube video of Polamalu clobbering Kansas State punt returner Aaron Lockett drew 176,000 views and garnered more than 116 “likes.”

The running and hitting have battered his body, too. When the Charger last played in Pittsburgh in 2009, Polamalu was inactive.

In 2003, a knee injury prevented him from playing in the Senior Bowl, scaring some NFL teams. He’s played only nine quarters this year because of a calf injury.

Rivers won’t have any problem identifying him, even if he is only 5-feet-10. Polamalu’s long, thick hair cascades from his helmet. Popularized in shampoo commercials, it’s the most famous mane in the NFL.

“He’s back out there and flying around,” Rivers said. “I know that he’s been injured for a lot of the year, but he bounced back last week and was flying all over the field in Baltimore. I expect him to be very active (today).”